Letter from the Editors: There’s more to 4-H than Animals

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E

One of Our County Ambassadors

2

National 4-H Week 3

Baking Tips 4

When the Sky Wept 4

State Leadership Conference

5

Healthy Eating 6

Dogs Saving Lives 7

National 4-H Week Outreach

8

THE CLOVERLEAF N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 8 V O L U M E 2 I S S U E 2

Most members of 4-H raise animals. Many people who are not in 4-H know

us as the farmers at the fair. Animals are an important part of 4-H, but it should be

acknowledged that there are many other opportunities. You can learn so much more

from 4-H than just how to raise an animal.

4-H has many projects other than animals such as woodworking, sewing,

cooking, rocketry, and LEGOs. These projects teach valuable life skills, in addition

to creativity and teamwork. There are also many projects relating to science. I had

the opportunity last year to be part of a project called Science Matters. The goal of

the project was to identify an issue in our community that could be solved through

science. The project was funded by Bayer pharmaceuticals, and as part of the project

we were sent to the National Agri-Science Summit in Chevy Chase, Maryland,

which is right next to Washington D.C. We were also given a tour of the Bayer facili-

ty in Berkeley. This was a rather big project, but there are also smaller, club-level

projects relating to STEM that members can participate in.

4-H also emphasizes the learning of skills that one would use in school and

the workplace such as public speaking and leadership. Members have many opportu-

nities to practice public speaking, such as Project Skills Day and Presentation Day. If

a member does well at County Presentation Day, then they can go on to Area Presen-

tation Day and even to State Presentation Day. Finally, 4-H teaches leadership skills.

Members can be club officers and junior or teen leaders. They can participate in lead-

ership projects such as the Emerald Star project. Finally, members can go to many

conferences all over the country to learn about leadership. This summer, I went to

State Leadership Conference and learned many things about leadership as well as

made friends from all over the state. I encourage you all to try something other than

raising an animal this year. It doesn’t have to be something big, but you may find

that you enjoy it just as much as animals.

Sincerely,

Evelyn Young, Editor

I Pledge

My Head to Clearer Thinking

My Heart

to Greater Loyalty

My Hands

to Larger Service

My Health

to Better Living

For My Club,

My Community,

My Country,

And My World.

of Contra Cos ta County 4 -H

P A G E 2

Welcome to one of our New County Ambassadors! Cara Rubin of

Tassajara 4-H was introduced as one of our county’s new 2018 – 2019

County Ambassador at Achievement Night on September 22. A County

Ambassador is the highest rank a 4-H member can achieve at the county

level. In addition to planning Achievement Night, they help with all county

events, and they wear cool County Ambassador jackets! The primary thing

a County Ambassador does is submit a plan to improve our county 4-H

program. So, if you see Cara around at a 4-H event, be sure to say hi and

thank her for serving as a County Ambassador. Here is my interview with

her:

Q: How long have you been in 4-H?

A: I have been in 4-H for about 7 years.

Q: What are your favorite hobbies outside of 4-H?

A: My favorite hobbies outside of 4-H are horse riding, being in choir, traveling and

hanging out with friends

Q: What are some of the projects you have participated in and what has been your

favorite project?

A: Other projects I’ve done include cake decorating, bee keeping, sewing, advanced

veterinary science, archery, science matters, photography and so many others. My fa-

vorite project has been financial acumen.

Q: What are some of the leadership positions you have held and which one was your

favorite? Why was it your favorite?

A: I’ve been a teen leader for the beginning rabbit and horse projects for a few years

and I’ve been a club officer with various positions for 4 years. My favorite was proba-

bly being the treasurer, but so far I’m really enjoying being a co-president!

Q: Why did you decide to become a County Ambassador ?

A: I wanted to become an all star so I could become more involved with our county.

Since I don’t show livestock animals, I don’t get to interact with a lot of other county

members.

Q: What are some of your goals as a County Ambassador?

A: One of my goals this year as an all star is to have a successful all star event! I’m

also hoping to become better friends with my other County Ambassadors.

Say “Hi” to one of our County Ambassadors!

By Samantha Gianelli, Tassajara 4-H

P A G E 3 V O L U M E 2 I S S U E 2

National 4-H Week is the one time every year when 4-H’ers around the country celebrate what 4-H means

to them. It is also the time that we share with the community around us what our clubs do and what 4-H is all

about.

This year we were all encouraged to participate in STEM activities. With this in mind, during the kick off

party which Knightsen 4-H club hosted on October 7th, I had a booth dedicated to STEM activities like marsh-

mallow catapult building, engineering challenge, and building air powered vehicles. It was a great time where

club members were able to join with members of the community and complete experiments and building challeng-

es.

The final day of National 4-H Week, our club held a science and field day where again 4-H members

were able to complete assorted science, technology, engineering and mathematical challenges. As the leader of the

Knightsen 4-H Club Robotics Project this year, I was able to take a planning role on both of these days. The mem-

bers of the club and community seem to have a great time experimenting and working together to build new and

interesting creations.

I look forward to National 4-H Week next year and what new and exciting things we will be able to plan

to do then.

National 4-H Week By Aubrey Saunders, Knightsen 4-H

National 4-H Week Events Around Contra Costa County

Pleasant Hill 4-H’s community out-reach at Rodger’s Ranch.

A happy visitor with her sunshine creations!

Baking Information and Tips

One of my favorite things to do is cook and bake in the kitchen. Just

a few weeks ago I learned some things about baking that I didn’t know. For

example, did you know that caster sugar is different from regular sugar?

Caster sugar is much finer than regular granulated sugar, and is used in bak-

ing as it dissolves better.

Another thing I learned was how to

candy lemons. First, you slice the lemons and

take out the seeds. Then you make a simple syr-

up by boiling equal parts of sugar and water

together. After that you drop the lemons in and

wait until they’re nice and crispy. It tastes just

like lemonade! Now if you ever get a craving

for a simple treat, you can candy some lemons!

Here is some additional information you may not know about the

kitchen:

Baking soda can last for nine to twelve months on the shelf. Never

put a metal measuring device (Teaspoon, tablespoon, ect.) in yeast. It kills it

and makes it so your baked goods can’t rise. Did you know why cookie reci-

pes say to melt the butter instead of using it at room-temperature? It’s be-

cause creaming cold or room-temperature butter makes the cookies have a

more cake-like texture.

To eat . . . or not to eat. That is the question. Did you know that eat-

ing cookie dough before it is cooked is dangerous to your health? The eggs

in the dough are raw, therefore it can potentially have a bacteria called Sal-

monella which can cause food poisoning. But if you really want some cook-

ie dough, there is an alternative to the homemade goodness. Edible cookie

dough is made without raw eggs or flour making it safe to eat and can be

found at your local grocery store. Yay! Especially as we approach the holi-

day season.

Speaking of which, at festive holidays, we often get green and red

cookies. Well, did you know that every time you sink your teeth into that red

and green yummy goodness, you may be eating a bug? Some red food dyes

are made from crushed bugs! However, you can buy or make natural food

dye that does not have bugs in it. Whew! What a relief!

I hope you find this information helpful as you spend time in the

kitchen this holiday season.

P A G E 4

By Sydney Olson, Claycord 4-H

When the Sky Wept

I stand at my window,

Watching the pearl-grey sky,

Staring at the overcast grey clouds,

Hurriedly floating by.

The silver mist cloaks

the distant mountains,

Wrapping it in a hazy shawl,

Soon, the crystal tears of heaven,

From a granite sky fall.

The dancing drops fall thick and fast,

Dreary but beautiful, grave but gleeful,

Plummeting to the ground,

In a myriad of silver needles.

Though the years will go on,

And my days be well-spent,

I know I’ll never, ever, forget the day,

When the sky wept.

By Sianah Britto, Claycord 4-H

POET’S CORNER

Note: The donations/proceeds from all the advertisers whose advertisements are published in this issue of The Cloverleaf will be used to pro-mote 4-H educational programs. No endorsement of the products or services by 4-H is implied or intended.

P A G E 5 V O L U M E 2 I S S U E 2

State Leadership Conference

By Johanna Busk, Claycord 4-H

Building bridges: That was the theme for State Leadership Confer-ence 2018, otherwise known as SLC. This year, many California 4-H’ers travelled to UC Davis, which hosted the conference, to learn useful leader-ship skills, especially building connections and friendships, which was this year’s focus.

The first day, I arrived with Melody Hollingworth and Evelyn Young, two fellow 4-H’ers from Contra Costa County. Melody and I, who were roommates, settled in and headed to a large room where many mem-bers slowly trailed in to play icebreaker games. We then headed to a truly amazing dining hall to eat dinner and then we played a fun recreational game.

Friday started with an early breakfast, shortly followed by the morning tours. Melody and I both attended the CS Summit (Computer Science), which was an all-day tour. Through different sessions, we studied artificial intelligence, used the computer program Scratch to create google logos, learned how to solder, and we also learned about compression data, mapping, and inscription. All these were super interesting, and everyone learned a ton. That evening, we met in small groups to discuss social skills and empathy, followed by the Kick-Off Assembly, which was followed by a trinket trade and ice cream social.

On Saturday, Paul Wesselman, an inspirational speaker, encouraged us to appreciate other people more, inspiring us to show others our appreciation. After lunch, several leadership and educational sessions were offered, the two which I attended were a scavenger hunt that taught leadership skills, and a computer/robotics session. That night we had a fun dance party featuring a DJ and 3 hours of fun!

Before we left on Sunday, we all went to a morning of mindfulness that featured water color, jiu jitsu, yoga, and many more activities. Our small groups met one last time, followed by a clos-ing assembly, and departure.

SLC was an amazing, educational and in-spirational experience. I highly recommend this super amazing conference to any 4-H’er who is old enough to attend!

P A G E 6

Healthy Eating and How to Shop for the Right Foods

By Anoushka Samuel, Claycord 4-H

A successful trip to the grocery store always starts off with a list of all the needed groceries and adding to the

list as soon as possible when food items are needed. Therefore you won’t just be buying food on impulse but more

well planned which also saves you time! An example of what to have on your list should be the staples like cereal.

Some areas have a program called Community Supported Agriculture which allows you to buy your food fresh and

easy from local farms. Another healthy option would be to go to your local farmers market with locally grown fruits

and vegetables. It is always hard to cook up a healthy meal if you don’t have the right ingredients. Some easy changes

you can make to food that are eaten commonly to make your everyday life healthier would be to replace white pota-

toes with sweet potatoes and to replace lettuce with spinach. It can make all the difference. Here are ways to shop for

the different food groups:

Produce: Choose the most colorful produce; color can show the

amount of minerals and vitamins depending on the brightness. Breads, ce-

reals, and pastas: Choose whole grain versions such as choosing regular

oatmeal instead of instant oatmeal. You want at least 4 grams of fiber per

serving with all your whole grain products to get the most out of them.

Meat, fish, and poultry: The American Heart Association recom-

mends two servings of fish per week, lean cut meats such as round, top sir-

loin, and tenderloin, and always opt for the skinless meat.

Dairy: Dairy is an awesome source to build up calcium levels. All dairy such as yogurt, cheese (as long as it

does not come out of a can), and milk are essentially healthy but try to pick the more low fat/nonfat options.

Remember, even though this is a lot to remember, eating healthy is essential!

V O L U M E 2 I S S U E 2 P A G E 7

It is the policy of the University of California (UC) and the UC Division of Agriculture & Natural Resources not to engage in dis-crimination against or harassment of any person in any of its programs or activities. (Complete nondiscrimination policy state-

ment can be found at http://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/files/215244.pdf.) Inquiries regarding ANR’s nondiscrimination policies may be directed to John I. Sims, Affirmative Action Compliance Officers/Title IX Officer, University of California, Agriculture and natural Resources, 2801 Second Street, Davis, CA 95618, (530) 750-1397.

On October 4, 2018, Claycord 4-H members arrived at the Dogs 4 Diabet-

ics center for a field trip. According to https://dogs4diabetics.com/about-us/our-

mission/, Dogs 4 Diabetics is a national organization whose mission is to “provide

quality medical-alert assistance dogs to insulin-dependent diabetics through pro-

grams of training, placement, and follow-up services; and to develop, promote

and advocate standards of quality, performance, support and disclosure for all

medical assistance dog teams.” They use a variety of dog breeds and mutts that

they get from the Seeing Eye Dog program and from shelters.

As we walked into the training room, we noticed many different

training tools and dogs in large kennels. The staff showed us a video

about the smelling ability of dogs. The shape of their nose enables

them to draw in many different odors at the same time. Likewise, the

mucus on their nose also helps dogs capture scent particles. In addition,

the large size of the olfactory part of their brain allows dogs to remem-

ber scents very well. Compared to people, dogs have about 225 – 300

million smell receptors while humans have only 5 million.

To demonstrate this difference, we had a smelling experiment where each 4-H’er sniffed a cer-

tain spice and then tried to identify which spice mix it was in. Only about half of our group was suc-

cessful in picking the right mix, whereas a dog would be able to identify each spice separately. This

amazing sense of smell helps them to detect if someone is diabetic and if their blood sugar is too high.

We watched several dogs demonstrate their training abilities. One dog correctly picked out the

training scent from a series of 4 containers and was right every time even though the scent was moved.

Another dog found the training scent when it was hidden in different places on a staff member. Youth

members were all given an opportunity to donate sweat samples to be used for training.

Many people’s lives have been saved by these dogs, but they could

use our help. Dogs 4 Diabetics needs volunteers to work at the center,

and encourage youth to volunteer when they are free in the summer

months. Also, they love having people foster dogs that are going

through training. This is a 4 – 6 month commitment where the dog

need to be taken to the center 4 days each week. These dogs have also

been socialized to be around other dogs and cats. What a great way to

serve the community!

Dogs Saving Lives

By Clara Brockman, Claycord 4-H

P A G E 8

Check the County Calendar at http://4hcontracosta.ucanr.edu/Calendar/ for more information.

Warm Winter Nights

Date: 11th November 2018

Time: 1:00—3:00 pm

Location: Lamorinda Presbyterian Church

Beginning 4-H for Volunteers/Parents

Date: 17th November 2018

Time: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Location: UCCE Office

County Ambassador Carnival

Date: 15th December 2018

Time: 2:00—4:00 pm

Location: Martinez Junior High

Project Skills Day

Date: 19th January 2019

Time: TBD

Location: TBD

County Presentation Day

Date: 26th January 2019

Time: TBD

Location: El Cerrito Middle School

Fashion Revue

Date: 27th April 2019

Time: TBD

Location: Contra Costa Event Park

Upcoming 4-H Events To celebrate National 4-H Week, Claycord 4-H arrived at the Clay-

ton Valley Pumpkin Farm on October 6, 2018, for a day of educating the

public about 4-H. National 4-H Week is an annual event in which 4-H is

promoted nationally for a week, and each club is encouraged to participate

in some way. Claycord 4-H has been hosting the petting zoo as their way to

promote 4-H for over 8 years, and it has become a popular experience for

both the club and the Pumpkin Farm visitors.

The Claycord 4-H Club set-up team arrived early to place haystacks

in a square and assemble canopies. Display table were put up to show items

that members had made in their projects. 4-H’ers also brought a variety of

animals to show the children who passed by. This year, kids had an oppor-

tunity to interact with rabbits, ducks, chickens, guinea pigs, a gopher snake,

and a box turtle. While visiting the petting zoo, children could hold or pet

the animals while they learned more

about them, such as name, gender, and

age. The box turtle and the rabbits were

the biggest draw this year.

Warren Brockman, who has at-

tended this event through the years, ex-

claimed, “It was exciting to tell children

about my chicken, Goldie, at the Pump-

kin Patch!” Everyone enjoyed the com-

radery, sharing their animals with the

public and promoting the 4-H program.

The Editorial Team

Editor’s Letter by : Evelyn Young

Issue Compiled & Edited by: Melody Hollingworth

Advertising Liaison: Johanna Busk

Team Members: Sianah Britto

Samantha Gianelli

Sydney Olson

Sara LaVay

Anoushka Samuel

Special thanks go to Mrs. Adrienne Busk and Ms. Brenda Vales for

over-seeing and leading the Contra Costa County Journalism Project.

National 4-H Week Outreach By Sophie Brockman, Claycord 4-H